Seattle is a great grown-girls' getaway

Weekend jaunt to the Emerald City just the thing for women who love to travel

The Savor Seattle on-foot excursion offers a culinary and cultural tour of Pike Place Market.

Ever notice how so many “girls’ getaways” stories seem geared to 20-somethings?

Nothing wrong with that, but surely we women no longer in that demographic (nope, not by a long shot) who love to travel would like a weekend road-trip idea that suits our style. How about Seattle?

I grabbed two of my “girls” and headed to the Emerald City recently for a two-night stay. Feel free to use our itinerary below, and book your own summer-in-Seattle fun.

Day 1

Leave Vancouver early a.m. (time TBD based on border lines, coffee stops, and how heavy your foot is on the gas pedal) in order to arrive in Seattle by noon, latest.

Check in at the Hotel Vintage Seattle, A Kimpton property. Its recent facelift has resulted in a beautiful, chic boutique hotel with a sophisticated vibe. Guest rooms are renovated and super-stylish; and complimentary morning coffee and Washington wines from 5-6 p.m. daily in the lobby make for a most civilized stay. The C.O. Bigelow bath amenities and fun Kimpton animal-print bathrobes did not go unnoticed by us ladies, either.

Take note — the hotel is offering a special ‘We Love Our Locals’ package (which means B.C. residents too) that includes free parking and two complimentary cocktails in the hotel’s restaurant, Tulio. Use the rate code WABCOR when booking. www.hotelvintage-seattle.com

12:30 p.m.: When you book your hotel, have them arrange with partner Evergreen Escapes for the Woodinville Wine Trail Half-Day Tour ($125 US per person). A guide in a sweet ride picks you up at the hotel, tours you around Washington wine country very close to Seattle, making stops for tastings at wineries like Laura Ashton Cellars, Kestrel Vintners, and more. www.evergreenescapes.com

8 p.m.: Dinner at new Miller’s Guild, located in the historic Hotel Max, and built around a nine-foot-long, custom-made wood-fired grill. James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson’s focus is on 75-day dry-aged beef, nose-to-tail butchery, and rustic baked goods. No super-sweet girlie drinks here, to our delight. Instead, cocktails are made with spirits house-finished in oak casks, suspended above the bar. Hipster heaven. millersguild.com

Day 2

Brunch at Sazerac, with a little hair-of-the-dog libation courtesy of their weekend DIY Bloody Mary Bar. Located in the Hotel Monaco, the restaurant has loads of character, and serves up kick-butt Chilaquiles and dishes like Eggs in Hell, or go easy with steel-cut oats and fresh fruit. www.sazeracrestaurant.com

Seattle Art Museum, also known as SAM, is an easy walk from brunch, and known for its eclectic mix of world-class exhibits. Be sure and check out Deco Japan 1920-1945. www.seattleartmuseum.org

Get the car from the hotel, and drive over to the Ballard neighbourhood to check out the charming shops, restaurants and cafes, a Sunday public market in the summer, plus fabulous people watching. We could live here. www.visitseattle.org

Pooped and back at the hotel, dinner in the lobby restaurant, Tulio, is ‘perfetto.’ Think old-school Italian trattoria, with antique revolving doors, cosy banquettes, brass, and white linen aproned waiters. Classic dishes like the burrata, crab ravioli and veal chop are must-orders. And for dessert, the panna cotta could make a grown man (or woman) cry. www.tulio.com

Day 3

One last activity before heading back to Vancouver — we did the on-foot Savor Seattle ‘Pike Place Market food and cultural tour.’ Meet your guide at 10 a.m. ($39.99 per person) in Post Alley, where he walks you through the infamous market sharing history, knowledge and tastings. Stops at Daily Dozen Donuts, Pike Place Chowder, Chukar Cherries, and the secret patio view of the city out back of the market, plus more. www.savorseattletours.com

At the market, stop in at DeLaurenti’s Specialty Food and Wine to take home a box (or several) of King Caramels. This Vashon Island-based brand makes the most buttery, fresh handmade caramels we’ve tried. Let’s hope they actually make it all the way home with you. They didn’t with us. www.Kingcaramel.com

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